Darts Tips: Dennis Priestley's BoyleSports World Grand Prix Preview

With the BoyleSports World Grand Prix just around the corner, we took the chance to catch up with darting legend Dennis Priestley who shared with us his thoughts on the names to watch out for in Leicester.

The former World Champion also gave us his take on some of the bigger issues in darts currently, from the challenges facing young players like Luke Littler, what a new broadcast deal for the PDC could look like and a darts star that could surprise many by retiring young.

Dennis Priestley’s BoyleSports World Grand Prix Tips

Looking at it, there's a good tournament in Ross Smith. You have to look at the top four or five where the winner will come from. Littler, Humphries, Rob Cross, Michael Smith, MVG. Whoever beats them will be in with a shout.

There'll be one surprise of the 32 players this year. Someone will do exceptionally well. It'll be very interesting because whoever can find that extra 1% will do well.

I can see it being a Littler v Humphries final. I think Ross Smith has a chance and Josh Rock too if he can get it all together.

Money A Concern For Littler’s Development

If Luke Littler gets too comfortable with the money he's got then he may unconsciously ease off and not do what he's been doing to make him the Darts player he is. He's still so young and in any other circumstance, he'd still be in school.

Adrian Lewis was only a teenager when he came on the scene and James Wade was very young back then. They were both great talents like Littler. You've obviously got young Josh Rock, he could be the next Luke Littler because he has the youth on his side.

‘A Hell of A Lot’ For Littler To Learn From James Wade

I never thought I'd be calling James Wade a veteran, but he is one. Luke Littler could learn a hell of a lot from James. Wade is a very knowledgeable young fella. It's someone like him who Littler could latch onto and learn a lot from.

Barry Hearn’s Upcoming Negotiations With Sky

I have full confidence in what Barry Hearn does. He's letting Sky know that the last contract was good for both sides but darts has moved onto higher things and they need to be paid accordingly.

Barry has probably got inside information on how much they pay other sports and darts should be the second-best paid sport on TV because that's what the viewing figures suggest.

Barry is a shrewd operator and I have full confidence in what he will do. When he took over, I know our first contract with Sky was $1million in '94. I'm sure the contract will be more than that now but what it needs to be is something that Barry will sort out.

What Barry Hearn Means to Darts

Where Barry has the upper hand on virtually every other promoter, he knows what a sport is worth. He's letting Sky know that he's not going to accept the same amount of money that they've been paid over the last three years. He's making the same noises for snooker too and I have confidence in Barry Hearn to get what darts is actually worth. He'll do good.

I know for a fact that he wants the World Championship's to payout £1million to the winner. He wants that to happen definitely in the next two or three years. To do that, Sky and other broadcasters have got to pay what darts is worth.

Darts World Championship Prize Could Hit £10M

In 50 years, if darts stays as popular as it is and we keep getting gifts from the gods like Luke Littler, the prize for first could be £10million. It could even be more.

Current players Should be thanking Barry Hearn and Matchroom for What They’re Doing For Darts But…

Yeah, they should be. But don't forget, without us players that broke away then he wouldn't be in the situation to come in and improve the sport so much. We went through a different period in the 90s with cash flow. If they're going to raise a glass to Barry in 50 years then they should be putting the 14 players that went through hardship at the top of the list.

Is An MVG Retirement In The Next Couple Of Years Possible?

Yes he could. That's what he'll be looking at if he keeps getting beat and can't put all his injuries to the back of the queue. I think he could retire, but he'll retire with a good bank balance.

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